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Somehow, I think I became a knife collector. Maybe not? All I know is that I like knives. I use knives all the time, and have taken an interest in exploring different brands, designs, and styles.

It’s not just me! EDC, or everyday carry, communities are centered around increased attention and interest in everyday personal use items, including keychains, pocket tool kits, knives, flashlights, bags, and all sorts of other similar items.

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Years ago, I bought 2 Gerber knives from Walmart, and they were simply okay. I guess they were my first “real” knives, outside of keychain knives, kitchen knives, and utility knives.

Then came a couple of multi-tools, with their built-in one-handed-opening knives.

My current “budget” recommendation is the Kershaw Dividend, 2nd from the bottom in the above photo. It’s made in the USA and sells for ~$42.

I own or have used knives ranging in price from $10 to $200, and some cost even more. I splurged on one or two pricier knives for learning and review purposes, and will likely eventually sell them.

I hear it all the time when I talk about pricier knives – “I don’t see how that’s better than my $10/$20/$30/$50 knife.”

Well, I can tell you this – you get more for your money, up to a certain point. After that, you will see diminishing functional benefits, but greater attention to aesthetics.

Think about pens. Or wallets. Belts. Smartphone cases. Entry-level pricing gets you entry-level features and looks. Spend a little more, and everything gets better. Spend even more, and you get even more. Spend a lot more, and you might not see proportional bump-up in quality, features, functions, or other aspects.

Cheap knives and better ones might do the same job, but will provide for very different user experiences.

I have always been weirdly particular about personal-use tools, accessories, supplies, and other items. My father will use whatever pen is closest to reach. That’s okay. Me? I have my favorites, and like different pens and pencils for different tasks. But I’ll also use whatever pen is in front of me. In the kitchen, I have a box of generic Staples-branded pens. In my office, I have a couple of specific disposables, one not-very-pricey refillable Pilot G2 pen, a few mechanical pencils, and 2 fountain pens that I have been too lazy about refilling. Plus a bunch that don’t see regular use.

I think that at some point I got my father to admit that he liked Pilot G2 gel pens better than the ballpoint retractable pens he tends to keep around.

Starting with school supplies, then tools, and even now with knives, I like to find the best one for me.

Does it really matter? No.

But just like any watch can tell time, any jacket will keep you warm, any shoes will keep your feet dry, any knife can do what you need it to, and that’s to cut things.

Do you have a particular preference when it comes to screwdrivers? How did you come about learning that preference? Exposure.

ToolGuyd allows and enables me to explore this part of my personality. With knives, I can’t even tell you if ToolGuyd is the cause or simply an enabler.

Wanting to be able to tell you the differences in knife-opening mechanisms, such as between a thumb hole, thumb stud, or flipper tab – is that an exploration done for ToolGuyd coverage, or ToolGuyd coverage prompted by exploration?

In other words, I can’t tell you if I started liking knives because of ToolGuyd, or if I would have liked knives to the same extent anyway.

ToolGuyd has been a part of my life for quite some time now – 9 years. I don’t even know how to describe how integrated it has become, and how these experiences have helped to steer my adult life.

Somehow along the way, I took up an interest in knives, and from an outside standpoint, I suppose I have become a collector.

If you were to ask “which knife should I buy?,” I can probably answer that.

Why would someone choose the Spyderco Para 3 over the Kershaw Dividend, with both being fine knives? Maybe you don’t want a flipper, or an assisted-opening mechanism. Or you want better knife blade steel. Or you prefer textured G-10 over the Kershaw’s anodized aluminum handle.

The Para 3 has a “compression lock” locking mechanism that I haven’t explored before, so that’s something I’ve been paying close attention to. Maybe you would rather that, over the Kershaw’s liner lock.

Whether for ToolGuyd, or enabled by ToolGuyd, I like to look at all these little things, and even finer ones.

I remember getting annoyed by popular magazines that featured reviews and product guides that only included items waaaaaay above my budget. $700 shoes?!!! And so even though I have gradually been bumping-up into higher-priced knife territory, I continue to look at inexpensive knives. There are a few waiting to be reviewed.

If you’re stepping up from a very inexpensive knife, chances are that an affordable good-quality knife, like the Dividend, will be a better fit than say a Para 3. But after you’ve used that knife for a few years, and maybe fiddled with a different knife or two at a knife shop or sporting goods store, you might be curious about something in the next price range.

I and ToolGuyd will be here for you, whether your budget is $15, $50, or $150.

If your budget is $150+, I will have some reviews for you, over time, but ToolGuyd’s not going to budget for more than a few premium knife review samples, and certainly not any custom knives.

One of these days I hope to be able to answer the question “why do you like knives?” The truth is, I don’t know. I like to think that I like having personal connections with the items I must use on a daily basis. With quality, functionality, user comfort, and price being the same, I’d choose the knife that “speaks to me.” One that I find a little more visually appealing than the next.

Some people are into watches, others into belts. Why might someone buy blue socks or boxer shorts instead of pale green ones that are $1 cheaper?

I’m saying all this because some people don’t “get it,” – and that’s okay. A lot of people have material interests that those that don’t simply won’t understand. Comments here are typically polite and moderate, but I’ve seen comments on social media where criticisms can get personal and even mean.

I am always open to requests, and always open to questions. While I enjoy testing and using different knives, it’s for a purpose.

In a few weeks, I’ll be ramping my full-photo review schedule back up to where it used to be. There are several knives in my review queue, and with the new New Year comes a new tool sample budget.

What do you want to see reviewed, explored, talked about, or otherwise covered here, knife-related?

If you have requests or questions about other product categories, feel free to email me! I’ve started to catch up on my emails, and have been better about responding more promptly.

62 Comments

For example, I made an Amazon Christmas Wish List for her family. It was a mix of video games, tools, comics and off-roading equipment.

Her sister commented, “This is all boring stuff.”

Well, to her perhaps it is. However on the flip side, my wife is into nail polishes ($18 per bottle polishes), and I don’t “get it” either, however, it’s not my place to judge.

She likes her things. I like my things. All that matters is we get some kind of satisfaction from our “things” and go onward.

In the end, they are just objects. They’re disposable to a degree.

If you enjoy knives, enjoy knives. I carry a Zero Tolerance 0350ST as an EDC knife. I don’t NEED a $170 knife for EDC in an office environment. But it’s very practical. It’s convenient. It also starts conversations (some good, others suspicious).

Good thoughts. I’m all for buying whatever makes you happy and you can afford. Like many, I suspect that I’ve had my share of buyer’s remorse from time to time and have thought : what was I thinking when I bought this or that? In some cases collecting can have a darker side when it becomes compulsive and turns to hoarding. Tools, knives, pens whatever – all have their place but not if you collecting deprives you and your family other essentials or a safe and efficient space to live in.

Now, with my working life in the past, I prefer to collect memories of new places visited, different languages, new foods, different cultures etc. Travelling with children and grandchildren – sharing those experiences is particularly rewarding. The pictures you bring back take up little physical space – but look nice in those electronic picture frames – like ones I got for Christmas.

If you work for a company that has a medical savings account (self-employed might also work), and you can find a doctor that understands supplements and will write a “prescription” for them, they might be deductible. I’ve done this in the past, because I was low in vitamin D, for instance. I don’t do this now, so don’t know if the rules have changed. The medical savings account covers things like eyeglasses, bandaids, orthotics etc. It’s money that is pre-tax, in other words, you don’t pay taxes on it. Sort of off-topic, but thought it was worth a mention.

I really like the statement you make about pricing structure and how at a certain price point “you will see diminishing functional benefits, but greater attention to aesthetics”. I think this applies to many consumer products.

I can tell from reading your posts that you are very detail oriented. I am detail oriented as well, and I think that’s why I enjoy using high quality pens, knives, hand tools, etc. These products only have a few parts that compose the complete product. So you are able to literally look at every single part and notice the little details.

In regards to your question at the end, how about a post on general guidelines for owning an EDC? You may already have a post on this, so disregard this comment if this is the case.

Some topics may include ways to sharpen, types of opening mechanisms, blade materials and their functionality (if any), and how to safely carry in your pocket.

Knives as tools vs knives as collectors items (from the cigarette card to the fine art ends of the scale) are rather different – though an interest in one can lead to the other.
I use and I collect. Modern folders and handmade British and scandinavian knives.
There are several long established forums around the net that specialise in knife collecting, making and the “bushcraft” / wilderness / hunting and survival uses of knives. Leading manufacturers like Spyderco have their own forums with highly knowledgeable people amongst the posters. Conversely it feels like most every forum where guys hang out to talk gadgets seems to have spawned an EDC thread to share user’s likes and dislikes and rehash received wisdom about steels and lock designs.
I would be interested in coverage of knives as a modern tool for the hobbyist or tradesman. I don’t believe this is well served so far. I’m not going to look here for a comparison of the metallurgy of blue and white paper steel or the laws around everyday carry in (say) Wisconsin, but I’d love to see comparisons of different types of knife for practical uses like marking out, cutting cardboard, cordage, strapping, etc and for people to share their experiences of what works well in the real world.
E.g.
In Europe, the red Swiss Army knife is the classic EDC, but don’t take it to the beach or boat as salt water corrodes the alloy spacers between the stainless blades.
OLFA replaceable blade knives are pretty good for marking out.
Japanese kiridashi marking knives are so hard that they will blunt the teeth on your file if you try to reprofile them.
The Milwaukee Fastback 1 has an unusually good ergonomics for a utility knife – look at the similarities between its handle and Duane Dieters CQC-1 from several years back.
Locking folders are far less likely to snap shut and cut your fingers than the traditional “slip joint” folder but they’re illegal as “everyday carry” in the UK and a number of other countries regardless of how short they are. And since some leatherman tools include locking blades, dropping one in your pocket or keeping it in your car “just in case” is technically illegal. Go figure 🙂

I’ll keep those ideas in mind (thanks!), but it could be a while. I’d like to get some more of my knife reviews up. The photos and different knife examples will make comparisons and informational posts a lot easier to write.

My backlog is full with pending reviews, how-to’s, and all kinds of “tool guide” content.

There are some topics that are well-covered already elsewhere, such as on sharpening, and so there’s no rush for me to work out my own guide.

There’s a lot more to knives than what most people realize. You can lose yourself in talk about metallurgy, edges, toughness, sharpening, etc. I’ve lost track of time reading quite a few posts on Cliff Stamp’s forum. There’s a lot of knowledge on there.

Just watch out cause you could end up with like 100 knives before you know it; especially if you become a steel junkie.

The law of diminishing returns also mirrors my experience. Back in the day I saw my dad use the same old, crusty Gerber. It worked “just fine”. When I was older and needed a knife for basic tasks, I bought a Buck Colleague (cheap steel, cheap knife, but insanely functional, not bad looking, and the small size was perfect for a low-budget “gentleman’s EDC folder” for my office setting). I eventually lost that knife but it’s practicality is what stuck with me – if in the future I was going to buy a knife, whether high-priced, budget, or anywhere in between, it had to “speak its purpose” to me. It had to feel right (obsessives, you know what I’m talking about).

Over the years, I bought a Mora Companion for use in the home wood shop and ended up taking that bad boy camping every year since (insanely affordable and good working knife). That led to CRKT’s line of Ken Onion (Stuart mentioned the Leek but I got the Swindle in BOTH flat and grooved designs – probably silly, but proof that obsession can be in full force). In the last year I bought and completed an Enzo Trapper kit (in O1 tool steel), purchased 4 Mora carpenter chisels (for shop, cabin, traveling tool kits and gifts), have my eye on the Benchmade 535, a Spyderco Dragonfly 2, and seriously am “this close” to getting Mora Garberg for summer. All of these have applications in some part of my life and I consider them “tools”. Not in any snobby, elitist way (maybe it comes off that way, but I hope not) – it is safe to say that each one “has their place”.

All I can say is that it’s deep rabbit hole, but fun. For my part, I’ve gotten more out of knives than some people throw away on scratch tickets and for less than the cost of a Sebenza. Haha.

Knives are always a part of anyone edc and everyone that edcs loves to share.
My current edc knives are a kershaw blur or a gerber crucial which isnt a heavy duty knife but it is a small and super handy multitool.

Knife reviews are best done in full-photo format, and there are several reasons why I’ve been lacking in that area for a while. But I’m ramping up now, and as soon as I get some things out of the way, you’ll see a lot more from me.

I don’t have a lot of fixed blade knives, but there are a few that will be reviewed soon. I will be buying one or two more, but they’ll be new variations of the Guardian 3 that I reviewed some time ago.

Hey, I just checked and it does appear that New York does allow spring assisted knives. Not sure why all the Home Depot’s around me don’t sell one. Closest one to me that sells it is out of state, in Massachusetts.

Ugh…. fine! I did the research for you…. it is illegal to own a 4” blade in NYC regardless of type of knife. To try to keep their customers from commiting a ‘crime’ unknowingly they find it easier to simply not sell to all of NY state which is why you cant find one in your state. It could even be a state wide ban on 4” knives, im not sure…
And Milwaukee’s fastback knife is 4” which makes it illegal in NYC, possibly all of NY.

NYC-code 10-133b- “It shall be unlawful for any person to carry on his or her person
or have in such person’s possession, in any public place, street, or
park any knife which has a blade length of four inches or more.“

Stuart, the knife reviews are actually what brought me to Toolguyd about two years ago and now I visit everyday! I was looking for a reasonably priced EDC knife (although I was new to the concept of EDC), and your max of honest tool and knife reviews has kept me coming back.

I have noticed that there have been very few knife reviews since I found this site and while I’m happy with my current knife (the blue Kershaw Link from your picture!), I would like to see you guys post those more often. Keep up the good work!

Interesting post. I’m a knife guy as well. I started late after too many bad experiences. I carried Victorinox off and on for years, as well as some traditional folder and was always unhappy with them. Blades too small, could not get or stay sharp, uncomfortable handles.

More modern knives are completely different. I don’t think I’m collector, just somebody always looking for the “right” knife. Spyderco Chaparral is close to just right for the office. Weekend knife could be a little larger and more robust.

I get the appeal of a nicer knife. I just don’t want to damage a $200 knife when I drop it from a ladder. So the $20 knives have their place too.

Agree – that is a very interesting think Spyderco does. They also seem to experiment a lot and are not afraid to have some of those be unsuccessful.

They also do runs of the same knife with different blade steel. You kind of know you’re turning into a knife geek when you buy a knife just for the blade steel (like the Spyderco Manix 5 or Manix 2 with a Maxamet blade.)

Like that you seem to have a preference for Kershaw. Many U.S. made knives with great quality at affordable prices. The are doing a great job, imo.

The quotations are not necessary, but intentional, as the dictionaries I checked all specifically describe “anyways” as “informal” or as “dialect form.”

Good job! There’s a total of 8 intentional errors in the sentence, with one subtle one that slipped by you.

I can definitely understand pet peeves.

Several professors were so strongly opposed to the word “decelerate” that it passed along to me. Their arguments were that there’s no such thing, and that “negative acceleration” is the proper way of putting it.

A few ToolGuyd readers made me especially sensitive about the difference between “damping” and “dampening,” but that’s still a tricky one that drives me to reference sites.

The quotations may be optional, but one of them isn’t correct. One is a leading apostrophe & the other is a quotation mark ending the same word.

The period at the end of the sentence should be contained within the end quotation mark. This may depend on where you grew up , as in my book , American English, it’s incorrect. It would be acceptable under British English however.

Irregardless is one of my pet peeves. “Ir” means “not” and somehow Not-regardless and regardless mean the same thing…but we’re deviating on the topic but it was your fault for purposely American-ing that sentence with numbers and false plurals. 😉

I would love to see more knife articles on toolguyd. The main reason being that I really enjoy your writing Stuart. You mention the details; something that hardly any other blogs do. I am a detail oriented person as well.

I had a bit of a knife collecting phase a few years ago. It seemed like I was always looking for the perfect knife. My favourite is a Victorinox Swisstool Spirit (multitool).

Knives are tools so more knife reviews would certainly be a great addition, especially if you enjoy doing them and it gives you an excuse to get a few more knives. Maybe some manufacturers will even notice and send some blades your way for review.

When it comes to knife reviews, I think it’s useful to have comparisons, such as one folder being easier/harder to open/close than one or a few other models of similar size, or one’s handle being more/less comfortable to hold.

It may also help to use whatever your current EDC and/or favorite current knife is as a baseline. If you like a new knife more than what you EDC and think it could replace it, that says a lot.

A pocket knife is an artifact of one’s budding manhood that you receive at about age 8 if you play your cards right. It’s a thing that becomes a companion throughout life, like a good dog, which you have to replace from time to time.
My small collection is made up mostly of heirlooms — I have both my grandfathers’ everyday carry knives, plus one grandfather’s 1907 Annapolis rigging knive which still retains its lanyard so it’s not dropped while aloft. My own father’s daily knife was the first Swiss Army knife he ever saw, taken from a German prisoner in 1944.
My Tinker is a modern version of that knife and it goes in my pocket every morning for occasions over the past five decades when I require a slim multitool.

The knife is one of the oldest tools in existence, first appearing in crude forms such as obsidian chips and sharp shells in prehistoric times. Blademaking is also essentially the very first application of early metallurgy. Really, it’s no wonder that the proprietor of a tool blog would find them interesting. Knives and blades are the sharp claws and talons that mankind has given himself in lieu of what nature has not. They are more than objects. They are emblematic of man himself.

I’m with you on a love of knives, I have many I’ve bought and played with for awhile then tossed in my “knife” drawer in the garage . Never even carried them. I think Kershaw are the best bang for your buck knife. What do you think of damascas blades?

I have carried many different knives over the years but the Gerber EAB is easily the most used knife of the bunch. Cheap enough where I’m not afraid to lose it and so compact I forget it’s in my pocket. If the blade dulls I just throw in a new blade. Certainly not the most durable but it works great for everyday uses. I never leave home without it.

As a carpenter I, of course, have a utility knife and so my Milwaukee fast back has become my defacto EDC, but there is another tool that I carry on my person everyday and find it indispensable. I don’t know that I could really label it a knife, although I keep it as sharp as one. It is my six-in-one. Commonly thought of as a painter’s tool, I feel naked without it. I use it to pick, poke, pry, you can remove the most delicate moldings or parting beads with it. I use it to scrape glue or paint. I chisel out mortises in framing stock with it. I can remove screws with it. In a pinch I’ve even used it to set nails.

As far as my nonprofessional side of life, I’m starting to get concerned with this whole knife idea. I can definitely see me becoming overly intrigued with these high quality knives you all are talking about. There is certainly an attraction to an object of obvious quality that feels good in the hand. Like a Lie-Nielsen block plane, for example. That said, I’m excited to read your-well-thought out, in-depth knife reviews. Then it’s fun to read all the comments from my fellow toolheads.

Worth a mention in the knife discussion is also the Lanksy Sharpening System (or rather, any sharpener, but in my experience this works on everything from Japanese chefs knives to shop and EDC knives):

A good sharpening system turns an OK knife into a great knife, and a keeps a great knife in perfect condition. Of course the fundamentals have to be there — the locking system, the opening method, the feel in your hand, the strength of the blade. But if the blade comes out of the box a little dull on the edge, with the know-how and the right sharpening system that factor, at least, ceases to be an issue.

I just don’t think you can talk about knives without also discussing upkeep, or at least how to get the optimum value out of one…..Unless it’s knives with disposable blades. In which case, just call it a box cutter and be done with it.

I agree about sharpening. One thing I believe that discourages some people from carrying/using knives is their lack of understanding and ability when it comes to keeping their knives sharp. They just stick with the box cutters and utility knives, which are fine – I use an Olfa snap-off blade quite often. But I also use my (very sharp) Benchmades, Spydercos, Sebenzas, SAKs……….

100% agree!! If you have a knife worth anything at all, you must also have the ability to sharpen (and re-sharpen) it to the edge it requires for the task at hand. Of course, different knives require different edge profiles. And they will wear down with the heavy use of the tasks you demand of them. So after heavy use, you want to bring them to brand new quality again, right? Then a quality sharpening kit goes hand-in-hand.

If you want just a razor, buy a box cutter or “utility knife” (which is basically just a box cutter until the blade wares out).

For your first or fourth knife purchase though, just in my opinion, for what it’s worth (anonymous opinion oh the Internet = it’s worth nothing), you should buy absolutely any kind of basic knife sharpening system first.

Spyderco is what I’d used for many years. One of those things where it’s so basic and well-made that you can’t go wrong, not a lot of moving parts.

Eventually, my (personal) issue, was that I couldn’t hold a consistent angle degree for the edge — something about me surviving a brain tumor a decade ago and yada yada yada don’t wanna bore you with the details.

But if you have wobbly hands I guess, or arthritis, or something else that affects your ability to hold a tool (specifically: a knife) for a brief period of time at a consistent and duplicable angle, then that’s really the only reason not to go with spyderco over anything else. Otherwise I’d recommend it.

It is an interesting topic for many. One of the things that I did notice in the article and in the comments is that everyone was speaking of commercially produced knives by many well known manufacturers, which may also make many other unrelated products, as well.
Especially when one gets into collecting for the value of a knife, one has to be aware of just how many of that particular model were made and in how many runs. Price paid for a knife has absolutely no relation to how much that knife may be worth at some future date.

That being said, there was no mention of custom knives nor of custom knifemakers, as well. Most commercially available knives were originally a custom design made by one person that others decided they wanted one of, too. Think of it: One goes to a custom knifemaker with a set of requirements of various items and the knife is made. One of a kind and the guys at the next jobsite don’t have anything even close. Depending on the practicability of that particular knife, you just might start a trend.
Even getting into making one’s own knife is not all that difficult and the parts are almost readily available.

Collecting almost anything for the pleasure of it is one thing. To do so with an eye that what you collect may be a good investment is much riskier. The value of a collectible can certainly vary over time and not everything appreciates (or depreciates) in value or does so consistently. Unlike bonds, stocks, precious metals and some other commodities – not all collectibles have an established market that help set prices and control trading. I have a modest collection of antique planes – but have little expectation that my purchases were good investments from a monetary appreciation standpoint. When I started collecting 40 years ago some planes were thought to be rare. The Internet seems to have validated that for a few of the planes I bought – but for others I find that that what was thought was in short supply – are really more common. The economy and perspectives of would-be collectors also can have a big impact on monetary value.

In comparison the ten gold pieces ($2.50, $3, $5, $10 and $20) but especially the one $4 piece that were passed down to me seem to have appreciated very nicely over the years.

The planes are displayed on a rack in my summer house – and I get a kick out of looking at them and/or talking about them with visitors. The gold pieces stay in a vault – and will get passed on to my kids.

Love knives, but they have to be practical. I won’t be getting a $300 knife bloody or whittling with it. Fell in love with HSS, from which I have made thin, ultra-sharp utility knives that hold an edge like nothing else. I made a short Seax from an HSS cutoff tool, and it wore out a lot of sand paper and diamond wheels beveling it. It can’t be forged or shaped, you have to work with flat stock that’s 65-70 HRC. Love my Victorinox kitchen knives. They are as sharp as they are cheap and ugly, and stay sharp forever.

I got a spyderco paramilitary 2 in s110v less than a month ago and was so impressed with it I’ve since bought a ladybug for my wife, a dragonfly 2 in zdp-189, 2 spyderco tenacious for beater blades, and 2 paramilitary 3. What’s the cure for this addiction to sharp things I’ve had since boyhood?

My favorite EDC knives are actually the $4.99 folders from Harbor Freight. I liked them considerably better when they were $2.99 though. For junk knives they take a surprisingly good edge. I buy two or three at a time and I beat the snot out of them. I cut drywall, shingles and all kinds of other things you’re not supposed to cut with a good knife. I drive screws with them, pry with them, baton with them and if I lose one under a house or in an attic I simply grab another one. And after all that abuse takes its toll, a few seconds with a disc sander and they’re ready for more.

I’ve had several good knives in the past, but I just don’t feel comfortable beating on a CRKT or a Kershaw like that and I certainly don’t feel comfortable walking away from it when it turns up missing.

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